Anchorage mayor to challenge Stevens for U.S. Senate
Published Sunday, April 20, 2008
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Stumble It!JUNEAU — Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich said Sunday he plans to run for the Senate seat held by Ted Stevens since 1968, ending months of speculation.
The 46-year-old Democrat said he plans a formal announcement today in Anchorage and later in Fairbanks at 5 p.m. at the J.P. Jones Community Development Center.
Begich had mulled the notion of taking on the veteran Alaska Republican since last fall when he met with Democratic members of the Senate.
He eventually turned to voters for their thoughts in visits around the state and said it was time to formally establish the campaign.
“Coming off all the visits I took, it told me the state is ready for a change, ready for new ideas,” Begich told The Associated Press. “There was really no single moment.”
Stevens’ camp could not be reached for comment, but the National Republican Senatorial Committee predicted Stevens would prevail.
“This does not change the strong support Senator Stevens will receive from votes in this election,” said Rebecca Fisher, the NRSC’s spokeswoman. “We fully expect him to be re-elected this November.”
Begich’s decision is backed by an aggressive push from top Democrats for him to challenge Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history and the target of a federal investigation.
Begich took several trips to Washington, D.C., in recent months, receiving heavy courting from some of the Democratic leaders now in control of the Senate.
He visited with Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Finance Chairman Max Baucus of Montana, and Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chuck Schumer of New York.
Begich then set out to hear from voters by forming an exploratory committee.
He spent the last eight weeks traveling around the state to meet with Alaskans.
Stops included Fairbanks and Juneau and some of the state’s far-flung areas, such as Bethel and Kotzebue.
Begich is the son of Nick Begich, who was representing Alaska in the House when his plane disappeared over the Gulf of Alaska in October 1972.
Stevens filed in February for re-election. The Republican is popular in Alaska, but his legacy was tarnished last year when the FBI and IRS raided his home.
Community Discussion
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Vegeitarism,Youngs a crook,Begich is the man , diversity, is there a ''issue'' that dosent follow the liberal/democrats agenda anywhere in this newspaper.
LOL! AKNATUFF, I'd suggest reading something other than the National Review. If you think the News-Miner is "liberal," then I hesitate to imagine what you'd think of a lot of other stuff. The paper does a fairly good job of staying in the middle and drawing fire from both sides, though it's a little too conservative for me.
I'd rather Stevens were succeeded by a Republican, but the man *needs* to be retired.
the News-Miner is left leaning. I dont like Begich, but I dont like Stevens either.
Steven's has a done a lot of good for Alaska but I agree it may be time to retire. He's better off going out on a winning note and endorsing his replacement rather than lose the position to someone like Begich which won't happen this election the majority of Alaskans have more sense.
See ya Ted! You did great, but out with the old, in with the new!
Begich can bring home the bacon- and without the federal investigations (I hope) But, we can try.
To say this paper has a liberal bias at all is pretty ridiculous, and to use this particular story to argue that is just plain dumb. Aknatuff, I guess you didn't read the by-line before commenting--it's an AP wire story!
However, I'm up for the argument, let's say dnm should be judged by the AP or other wire stories it prints. How's this line for liberal bias?
"Federal authorities are reviewing the remodeling of the Stevens' official residence...."
Federal authorities? That would be the FBI.
Reviewing? That would be a criminal investigation.
If Ted is reelected, he will be 90 by the end of his next term. Who hear thinks he/she will do a great job at their present job at that age?
As if there aren't a dozen other reasons for him to retire now.
Where do any of you find basis for your assumption that Begich is not a good candidate?
To be fair, Robert Byrd is even older than Sen. Stevens.
And good point, critical ... I didn't even notice that it was an AP story. Guess I wasn't being critical enough.
Byrd, very much like Stevens, has done some incredible things for his state. West Virginians and Alaskans should be proud of the truly historic achievements of both. Time for both of them to go, though, for age and at least a few ethical problems.
Ugh, I'm so sorry, I just noticed I used "hear" when I meant "here" in my last post. Need to critically read my own words, as well.
I don't know, guys. There's an article today about a grown man who rides a bicycle, and it doesn't even explain that he's obviously been brainwashed by Al Gore. Also, yesterday's paper had pictures of wolves that were not dead. They were in Michigan, but still.
I'm going to have to side with AKNATUFF and honeyhi on this one.
Right on, Babylon!!!
I know one thing. DNM needs to put an "edit" option in their comments section. So people can go back and correct their typos, add more information and/or delete what they wrote if they learn of their mistakes.
ADN has it and it's nice.
AKNATUFF,
This story is about politics, but that doesn't automatically make it right- or left-leaning. If you are looking for stories that both sides can agree on all of the time, then you won't be reading news. It appears to me that you only want to read about news you agree with. If Begich were a Republican, would you complain about the story? And the Newsminer is definitely right-leaning, based on its opinion pieces.
geez... a liberal democrat from ANCHORAGE! the rest of alaska would be so screwed.
Vegetarianism and diversity are issues brought up by readers of the paper in the Letters to the Editor. The letters are not news stories, but simply opinions of readers. It's refreshing to see some alternative view points expressed. Maybe the topics of the letters reflect a changing demographic in the population of Fairbanks, which I very much welcome.
Don Young's ties to Abramoff is news (sometimes the truth hurts). The story on Begich does not offer support to him as a candidate. It simply lets the readers know he made a decision to run against Stevens. How is that liberal/democrat? It's called reporting. Not printing stories just because they reflect poorly on Alaska, or are not good news to some of the readers would not be good journalism, and would amount to censorship.
Go Begich!!
Ted the Flying Tiger... thank you for your service to Alaska and to the United States of America. I'll vote for you.
so will i akuzilvak
http://citizens4ethics.com/category/cfeg...
*See 'document link' at the bottom of the page above.
Mark's father earned much more respect from some than Mark has earned, including from myself.
I'll vote for neither Ted -or- Mark.
Questionable actions are questionable actions.
Personally, I have seen enough, whether graced with an 'R' -or- a 'D'.
I hereby endorse Mark Begich. ...Daniel A. Berry
Questionable actions can be answered, criminal actions should be punished. I support Begich and whoever is running against Young and republican or democrat have nothing to do with it. i support Obama for the same reason, he is the least corrupted. I think Voting for the new person in every race is the most positive change we can make to politics. Let's promote all the lifer politicians at all levels of government to the job market after 2 terms.
Sorry, Begich was my assemblymen in Anchorage many years ago. Not a fan.
WHY?
YMBC, just my dealings with him. Sorry I can't get more concrete. I am sure he is a nice person, doesn't beat dogs, likes children, keeps his lawn nice, etc. Hoe wife even worked concessions at the New Years festival downtown like anyone else. I just couldn't warm to him. Haven't you ever met anyone like that? There is just something that niggles at you? I am not a fan of how he does some things in Anchorage, I don't think he is ready to jump to DC yet & I just can't shake not liking him. Sorry, but it is true.
I am open to listening to arguments on both sides, but it would have to be pretty dang good to shake this feeling.
I had given up posting here yesterday, for a variety of good and personal reasons. I will try to maintain that decision when best able.
My posting of the link was an attempt to present additional information concerning Mr. Begich.
But I will reply to your question from a 'personal experience' point of view, if I may, YMBC.
I was in Anchorage when John Ashcroft was there, pushing GW's agenda of suspending rights in the name of the (questionable) war on terror. There were folks from many orgs and enclaves in our hodge-podge group; traditional conservatives, Dems, Greens, etc.
Some of those among us were well-known local 'grass-roots' Dem organizers who had, in my opinion, been instrumental in Mr. Begich's election to the position of Mayor of Anchorage.
Secret Service and others were filming our actions, and we received a minor amount of harassment from one Anchorage P.D. LEO. There were no illegal actions or disruptions caused by our presence. There were no arrests that I'm aware of.
As Mr. Begich exited the building, some of his more noteworthy supporting activists in the front of our group greeted him, at relatively close distance, with very friendly words such as, "Good morning Mr. Begich/Mayor Begich," "How are you today Mr. Begich," etc.
He wouldn't even give them eye contact, let alone return a greeting; those whose federal revenues he depends on were watching, and the grass-roots Dems present were the 'unwashed masses' under those circumstances.
When the State Appellate Court reaffirmed the Ravin Decision, via the David Noy case, and the State Supreme Court refused to hear the State's appeal, his statements to the media were that the Anchorage P.D. would continue arresting adults in their homes for small amounts of cannabis.
Again, pushing the agenda of those who provide revenues, as well as the police, rather than the constitution of his own State, the court's ruling, or other issues that some believe to be more important.
In my opinion, he has coasted a long ways on his father's name, and has not earned the respect that his father was due.
In my view of things, the Rs and Ds have been engaged in a long and troublesome game of 'good cop-bad cop.' This has been apparent in Washington, D.C., as well as in Juneau, with few individual exceptions. I no longer wish to participate in the facade of change. I want -real- change.
Superficial stances and the kissing of babies, while telling me that (he/she/it) "feels my pain,'" no longer convince me that they even have a clue about priorities or civil liberties issues..
Take care
All I want to know is, where can I get my "Begich for Senator" bumper sticker?
Dirk-
From one of the unwashed--
My feelings precisely.
Thanks.
BTY, Dirk:
Have you looked at the North Pole case article from Friday?
Chelly provided an insta-link to the ruling.
Really good.
Yes, Corinne, I viewed it briefly.
The weak link lives in the authorities' ability to employ federal law re. detentions and questioning during stops, as highways are federally funded, and cross both state and federal lines. Jurisdictional separations have become gravely weakened over time, and the 10th Amendment has been on life support for many years.
While some may say that we are not yet in the times of "Show me your papers," I would counter that those persons drive newer vehicles, and, like myself, rarely, if ever, get stopped. But that doesn't address the stereo-typing by the enforcers as it daily affects those who don't have a nicer vehicle, or, heaven forbid, have bumper stickers, piercings and tattoos visible..
When is the last time you heard one officer say to another officer, "Hey, don't do that. It's a violation of (the subject's) rights."? When is the last time, and how fequently, have any legislators effectively failed to grant requests to/by the DoJ or the local and State LEAs?
There's a defacto socio-economic bias in how the rather loose federal standards are applied. And the People, the ultimate employers, are, in essence, told to eat what they're served, and be happy that they got fed at all.
It's nice to see that at least the State court is saying, "Stop treating our citizens generically as though they're all criminals."
I miss the freedom and mutual respect that, though never fully attained, was more visible than it is now. I miss the boundaries that went with it. (As I briefly hijack a thread...)
I don't see Nancy Pelosi, Mark Begich, Ted Stevens, or Don Young delivering us from this spiraling journey toward ideologies that we once made various forms of war against.
That lack of hope is directly linked to my reaction to other variables that lead me to post less here.
"What's the point?," I ask myself, when partisanism and naivete' contribute directly to the continuation of the 'Good cop-Bad cop' phenomenon, and the frequently heard mantra re. elections, amounting to statements akin to 'eating arsenic is better than taking cyanide,' in re. to choosing 'the lesser of two weasels.'
I'm out.
Time for a lunch, and some time holding my youngest, while reading him a story. I can successfully affect his views and sense of self a lot more effectively than I can that of Goliath, no matter Goliath's other names.
Thanks for the in-sight Dirk.
Maybe we should elect Dirk for the senate!
(As always, Dirk, its a pleasure to hear your perspective.)
I am not decent or unbiased enough to have that kind of sway over the affairs of other free persons.
But thank you, and, you're welcome, to the three of you.
More chores await.
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